Many companies are still somewhat anxious about the option to let their employees work from home. This may be due to a lack of control, but it may also have a technical cause. For example, files may not always be easily accessible from a location other than the office. Whatever your reservations, in this article, we’ll give you nine reasons to consider working remotely.
First of all, it is good to realize that letting your employees work from home (or elsewhere) does not mean that they will never return to the office. Experience shows that people also enjoy seeing colleagues and being able to collaborate face-to-face.
The traditional office has come under heavy fire in recent years anyway. Due to technical possibilities (such as video calling), the congestion on the roads, and more and more companies using freelancers, the number of people who make the daily trip to the office decreases. Employees increasingly demand a flexible attitude from their employers.
9 reasons to admit that:
1. People who work remotely are less stressed
Employees feel less stressed if they are not expected in the office five days a week. People like to be able to decide for themselves where they work. As a result, they experience less stress and can do better and longer.
2. Remote workers are connected
Precisely because they are not present at the office; employees who work from home are well connected with their colleagues who work elsewhere. With all the technical possibilities of today, it doesn’t matter whether you are at a desk in the office or at your desk at home. Many companies work in the cloud, with an online project management system, online video conferencing, and calling method over the internet.
3. People who work remotely cost less
By encouraging working from home as a company, you can settle for a smaller office. And that saves a lot of money. However, it is essential to create a fair and ergonomic workplace for employees who regularly work at home. If necessary, check this at employees’ homes, as this is very important for the home worker’s health and productivity.
4. It provides new functions
Working differently means that companies need other people to make that remote working possible. For example, there must be more synergy between HR, IT, and facility services, and it may well be that other skills are involved.
5. Working remotely gives employees a choice
Employees who feel that they have a say in their performance are generally more productive and successful than people who are not allowed to choose themselves.
6. Companies benefit from happier employees
Ever seen an employee in the office who took a good power nap during their lunch break? Probably not, because most companies don’t have the facilities for that. But at home, your employees can easily lie down for 15 minutes, after which they get back to work with full energy.
7. People who work remotely are more engaged
Employees in the office every day feel more likely to have finished working if they walk out the door around five o’clock. People who regularly work remotely are often still at work outside regular office hours and feel more involved.
8. There are better locations than the office
People who work remotely do not always do this from home. Perhaps there is a better location in their area where they can work optimally. Most people know the story of JK Rowling, who wrote many of her successful Harry Potter books in a local cafe.
9. Commuting is bad for your employees
Traffic jams, exhaust fumes, delayed trains. All things that can cause stress. And stress is bad for the productivity of your employees. So if you can reduce that stress level by occasionally working from home, your employees will be more productive. Besides that, it is better for the environment if your employees leave the car a little more often.
The change will continue
The revolution of The New Way of Working has been passing through various disciplines for a few years now, and it is expected that this revolution will not be over yet. More than 90% of companies already have an option to a greater or lesser extent, whereby employees no longer have to come to the office every day. This is mainly in the field of working part-time or filling in hours more flexibly. In the coming years, it is expected that more and more people will discover the benefits of working remotely.